Page 86 of Shephard
“Oh, so being a detective in a large city’s department doesn’t mean shit.”
“Stop arguing with me. Your gut tells you this case could get blown wide open.”
Her sigh was full of aggravation. “The FBI are hiding something. They know more about what’s going on. I can feel it. I also have a terrible instinct that the murders will continue.”
“And it’s not your case any longer. You are a park ranger.”
“Said by the man who likely never followed rules. Right?”
There was no arguing with her. What was the point? “Just be careful.”
“Sure. Just like you.” We sat quietly for another five minutes, the awkwardness all consuming. “How’s managing the resort?”
Another laugh pushed up from my gut. “A pain in the ass already. It appears someone is stealing from the organization.”
“Really? You discovered that in what, four days?”
“I’m not as dumb as I look. Plus, one of my brothers is a whiz at numbers. The theft is subtle and was taken over time, but it’s there.”
“Maybe I can help you flush out the culprit.” Her smile was brighter than before.
“Maybe, but right now, you’re going to concentrate on ridding your mind of that jerk.”
Her face clouded up all over again at the mention of the cockroach. “You really think he’s dangerous?”
“I do. But I’ll find out if he listened to what I had to say.”
She thumped against the couch, returning her attention to the fire. “I would appreciate that.”
Another two minutes of silence kicked in.
“Can I ask one favor?”
I was surprised at the change in her tone. “Of course.”
“I have an emergency bag of dog food and some bottled water in my duffle. Will you feed Pepper and give her some water? I didn’t grab her bag of dog food on the way out.”
As before, she allowed her bravado to slip just a little and an ache developed in my gut. Or maybe my heart.
What was left of it.
“Of course. We’ll get her dog food tomorrow.”
“I can’t stay here forever.”
“You’ll stay here as long as I deem it necessary,” I told her.
She locked eyes with me and finally nodded, accepting my decision. “Thank you. One more piece of advice and I don’t care if you like it or not. Live a little. You know how to do it. I’ve been the lucky recipient of the special times when you do. It won’t kill you.” She seemed more content as I stood, winking at Pepper who immediately seemed to know what I was doing. Dogs were much more perceptive than any human I knew. I grabbed her duffle from the stairs, finding the emergency bag right on top.I couldn’t help but return my gaze toward her before guiding Pepper into the kitchen.
“Come on, girl. Let’s get you some food.” I grabbed two bowls from the cabinet, filling one with food, the other with water. I watched her eating for a little while, still trying to come to terms with having both girls in my life.
For now.
It was tougher in some ways than I’d thought about, but in truth, it almost felt natural. I rubbed my jaw, curious in my mind why I’d shaved. For Denise? Maybe. Or maybe I was tired of looking like a vagrant mountain man. Either way, I felt lighter. When Pepper was finished, I crouched down, rubbing the top of her head. “Girl, this is going to be a rough few days.”
I had a feeling she knew what I was saying. As soon as I returned to the living room, I noticed Denise had lain down on the couch. I wasn’t surprised to find her asleep. The night had been draining for both of us. I studied her for a few seconds, admiring her beauty all over again before picking her up and cradling her in my arms.
Her soft murmurs as she placed her hand on my chest were heartwarming. But I wasn’t certain if it felt right. I carried her up the stairs, jerking down the covers and placing her on the bed. After removing her shoes, I covered her with the comforter as Pepper jumped up on the bed to join her.